WheelPower launches online course to help teachers adapt sport sessions for wheelchair users
WheelPower, a national charity for wheelchair sport, has a useful short online course designed to help teachers, coaches, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists to adapt their sport and physical activity sessions to suit wheelchair users.
The ‘Engaging wheelchair participants in sport’ course aims to enable learners to develop confidence in working with and supporting physically disabled people to enjoy, participate, and access sport, activity, and movement opportunities.
The tutors will provide ideas on how to engage wheelchair users and how to include them within both disabled and non-disabled sports sessions. It will also be an opportunity to learn the basics about different wheelchair sports, including their rules and sport specific equipment.
To make best use of people’s time, the first part of the training is a self-guided learning module that lasts for 45 minutes to one hour.
The module will allow learners to develop an understanding of how to include participants with spinal cord injury and other physical impairments in movement, sport, and activity.
It also covers thought-provoking topics such as barriers and opportunities to participation, use of appropriate language, and off-court considerations that could help to make a sport or activity more accessible and inclusive for all.
WheelPower advises that this should be completed before part two, the tutor-led online course, which is approximately two hours’ long, which is interactive, with breakout room discussions and the opportunity to learn from the lived experiences of the tutor.
Tutors will guide attendees through some ideas and examples of sports and activities that are inclusive and can be adapted for physical disabilities.
The course will take place on multiple dates, including 17 April from 9.30am to 12pm and 15 May from 9.30am to 12pm, presented by Pete Edwards, 12 June from 9.30am to 12pm, and 24 July from 9.30am to 12pm, presented by Louise Hunt-Skelley.
This course will enable attendees to support WheelPower in the delivery of programmes and events as well as other governing bodies, organisations, and clubs that provide opportunities for disabled people to participate in wheelchair sport and physical activity.
Participants can call on support from the WheelPower Sports Team with any additional questions after the course or to help make contact with local organisations.
The course is free to attend, but WheelPower states that it would be grateful for a charitable donation to support its work, with a suggested donation of £5.
The William Merritt Disabled Living Centre in Leeds, accredited by Driving Mobility, recently hosted the latest Powered Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Retailer Training course.
